Tiny Worlds - by Brittany Cicchese (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Grandma's house isn't that big, but there's always enough room for a tiny world. . . . An introverted child finds grandness in the small things around him in this heartfelt intergenerational story.

When a young boy visits his grandmother's house, he doesn't just see scraps of ribbon lying around, mushrooms clustered under a log in the forest, or shells hiding along the beach. He sees tiny worlds where pie tins become playgrounds, ants become farmers, and tide pools teem with life waiting to be explored. Tiny worlds are full of whimsy and imagination, but they have one problem: He seems to be the only one who sees them. While at first Grandma keeps trying to draw him out, to a busy park or the beach or the zoo, eventually she realizes that her grandson's tiny worlds are big enough for her to meet him there. In her authorial debut, Brittany Cicchese offers a touching story and warm illustrations that celebrate the connection between a child and grandparent and encourage readers to appreciate the little things in life--and the sensitive souls who lead us to them.

Review Quotes

This warm and accepting picture book is an excellent addition to any library.
--School Library Journal (starred review)

Children who enjoy fairy gardens or other creative pursuits involving miniatures will find a gratifying mirror here. In addition to celebrating introverts, this book is particularly welcome as an intergenerational story that proves that older adults can and should take the time to learn from younger people.
--Kirkus Reviews

The youth's honesty both prompts a deeper connection between the pair and drives home the value of being present in the world and with others.
--Publishers Weekly

The sweet story explores introversion and sensory sensitivity with wonderful warmth, and the love between the pair is obvious, even when there are misunderstandings. Soft earth-toned illustrations burst with delightful detail and cheerful color, and readers will no doubt be inspired to create tiny worlds of their own. A cozy cocoon containing both tiny treasures and the enormous joy that comes with being truly understood.
--Booklist

A tender tale. . . this picture book is a hug put to paper.
--Foreword Reviews

Introverted readers will greatly appreciate Grandma . . . and her final celebration of his urge to explore all things tiny and her openness to learn from him feels both authentic and reassuring. Richly colored digital illustrations, full of watercolor and pastel-like smudges, swoops, and swirls, zoom in and out to reveal various tiny worlds, real and imagined. . . . This celebration of imagination may inspire little ones to build their own tiny worlds.?
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Brittany Cicchese is an artist and writer with many years of experience working in public libraries. She illustrated Emily Jenkins's The Kitten Story: A Mostly True Tale and Meg Medina's No More Señora Mimí. Of this book, the first she has written, she says, "As a child, I often retreated to imaginary worlds when I felt overwhelmed, finding comfort in creating stories and building detailed playscapes. My fascination with tiny, secret worlds grew over time, and I loved seeing familiar, everyday objects in a completely new light . . . it was its own type of magic." Apart from creating, she enjoys connecting people with stories, exploring the Rocky Mountains, and browsing every new picture book at her local library. Brittany Cicchese lives with her family in Denver.